Huangguoshu Waterfalls and Surrounding Scenic Area

  日照香爐生紫煙
  遙看瀑布掛前川
 飛流直下三千尺

  疑是銀河落九天



No doubt Li Bai's verse (above) was dedicated to Lushan Pubu but bet he would  be just as awed by the majestic Huangguoshu if he had encountered it in his lifetime.

 

Yellow Fruit Tree Falls





Huangguoshu  Waterfalls is located 128km from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province. It is the largest  waterfall  in China and also the biggest waterfall in Asia. Nature's wonders abound in this region of  wild waters, karst mountains and limestone caves.

 

Huangguoshu Scenic landmarks

"Water Curtain Cave " or Suilian Dong is  a magical  cave  located halfway up the waterfall. A path up the cliffside leads into the cave which has "windows"  or openings providing visitors  views of the fall. Inside this remarkable cave, the waterfalls can be seen, touched and heard !

 

Path to the Cave

Shui Lian Dong



Short write up of the cave

Ode to the Cave or Monkey Tales

water curtain seen through the cave's window

 

Other mysterious caves can be explored via boats

Surreal Caves



Huangguoshu's wetlands is also a fertile ground for all sorts of aquatic birds, like ducks, swans, cranes, herons and peacocks etc

 

Aquatic birds at Huangguoshu



Guizhou,  a wet province shrouded in mist and cloud  has many rainy days throughout the year  and wild waters is the heartbeat of the Huangguoshu Scenic Area.



Wild Waters the heartbeat of Huangguoshu

On the Streets where the Myanmese Live.....

Street Life  -  Yangon City .... in the vicinity of Bogyoke Aung Sun Road is a kaleidoscope of people, activity and colour...... (click to see enlargements)

 

Store with good old things



Setting up stall in the morning

Ad for trousers or just hanging out to dry ?

 

where the locals eat

Is this cockcroach or locusts ?

beautiful lady with tudang

29th street a side road off  Bogyoke is a quiet Muslim quarter

Many treasures inside this shop

 

Scotts Market, the local shopping Mall is also on Bogyoke Aung Sun Road

 

Scotts Market

 

 

 

 

More Buzz and Bustle at Chinatown.....

 



Durians

 

Ladies wear art on their faces

Sweet lass with artwork on face

 



Rice dumplings for sale

What's in her basin ?

 

more rice dumplings -wonder how it tastes - dare not try it !

the herbs man

Chinese gold smith shop

Roast duck Yangon style

Where the locals live

The jars contain free water for the thirsty aka drinking fountain



Finally my 2 favorite  encounters

 

Book binder with ginger cat. Look at the Myanmese  script, so delightful!

 

Cat in upmarket shop. It must be a Burmese Cat, so charming !

 

 

 

Nothing gold can stay.....

Fields of gold...........

 

On the road to Yinxiu *, Anyang, Henan, 2007



Yinxiu or Yin Ruins is about 2km NW of Anyang City and is a designated Unesco World Cultural Heritage Site. It was the capital of the Shang Dynasty (1600BC-1100BC)



WILD N WONDERFUL 2 : ANGKOR RUINS

Ta Prohm Temple of Trees

The ruins of Ta Prohm Temple located approx 1km east of Angkor Thom was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century  by the King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his mother.

It has been left untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of a path for visitors and some structural strengthening to stave of further deterioration. Shrouded in dense jungle it evokes an aura of mystery and romance.

The wild and the wonderful are found here cheek by jowl - ancient temples and galleries, mystic faces and comtemplative deities share space with monolith gnarled trees

Narrow terraces hemmed in by temples and trees

Everywhere Nature dominates Art as gnarled trees are locked in a strong embrace with beautifully carved stone temples.

Gnarled trees embrace temples

Parts of it is like an earthquake zone with fallen boulders adding to the heady chaos.

earthquake zone or ancient ruins ?

heady chaos

Tourists  soak up the primeval energy

WILD N WONDERFUL 1 : ANGKOR RUINS

 the ruins of Angkor Thom and Bayon

Angkor Thom, meaning  "Great City" was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII. It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors. At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon.

Bayon Temple Complex

Bayon, the marvellous Temple of Faces  is one of the  wonders of Angkor Thom. Who were the artists, sculptors, artisans, craftsmen and builders who created these divine images of Khmer art ?

                                               Angkor Thom Tower of Faces 2007

                            Bayon Faces, Mona Lisa Gazes

Khmer heads all in a row, Angkor Thom South Gate